Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Encyclopedia
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in 1817 as a medical asistencia ("sub-mission") of the Mission San Francisco de Asís
as a hospital to treat sick Native Americans
of the Bay Area, making it Alta California's first sanitarium
. The weather was much better in the North Bay
than in San Francisco, and helped the ill to get better. It was never intended to be a stand-alone mission, but nevertheless grew and was granted full mission status on October 19, 1822. Likewise, Mission San Francisco Solano
was intended to be an adjunct of Mission San Rafael but developed into a mission in its own right.
, on December 14, 1817, as a medical asistencia ("sub-mission") of the San Francisco Mission to treat their sick population. It was granted full mission status in 1822.
This was one of the first missions turned over to the Mexican
government in 1833. In 1840, there were 150 Indians still at the Mission. By 1844, Mission San Rafael Arcángel had been abandoned; what was left of the empty buildings was sold for $8,000 in 1846. The Mission was used by John C. Fremont
as his headquarters during the battles to make California a United States
possession (see Bear Flag Revolt). In 1847, a priest was once again living at the Mission. A new parish
church was built near the old chapel ruins in 1861, and, in 1870, the rest of the ruins were removed to make room for the City of San Rafael. All that was left of the Mission was a single pear tree from the old Mission's orchard, it is for this reason that San Rafael is known as the "most obliterated of California's missions." In 1949, Monsignor Thomas Kennedy rebuilt and restored the chapel. The new chapel was dedicated on December 18, 1949, with Archbishop Mitty
officiating.
Today the Mission San Rafael Arcángel sits next to the St. Raphael Parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
, on the site of the original hospital in San Rafael, California
. It is open to visitors and has a small museum and gift shop.
Mission San Francisco de Asís
Mission San Francisco de Asís, or Mission Dolores, is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco and the sixth religious settlement established as part of the California chain of missions...
as a hospital to treat sick Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the Bay Area, making it Alta California's first sanitarium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
. The weather was much better in the North Bay
North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
The North Bay is a subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States. The largest city is Santa Rosa. It is by far the least populous and least urbanized part of the Bay Area...
than in San Francisco, and helped the ill to get better. It was never intended to be a stand-alone mission, but nevertheless grew and was granted full mission status on October 19, 1822. Likewise, Mission San Francisco Solano
Mission San Francisco Solano
Mission San Francisco Solano was founded on July 4, 1823, and named for Francis Solanus, a missionary to the Indians of Peru born in Montilla, Spain, known as the "Wonder Worker of the New World." Originally planned as an asistencia to Mission San Rafael Arcángel, it is the northernmost Alta...
was intended to be an adjunct of Mission San Rafael but developed into a mission in its own right.
History
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in the present day location of San Rafael, CaliforniaSan Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, on December 14, 1817, as a medical asistencia ("sub-mission") of the San Francisco Mission to treat their sick population. It was granted full mission status in 1822.
This was one of the first missions turned over to the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
government in 1833. In 1840, there were 150 Indians still at the Mission. By 1844, Mission San Rafael Arcángel had been abandoned; what was left of the empty buildings was sold for $8,000 in 1846. The Mission was used by John C. Fremont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
as his headquarters during the battles to make California a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
possession (see Bear Flag Revolt). In 1847, a priest was once again living at the Mission. A new parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
church was built near the old chapel ruins in 1861, and, in 1870, the rest of the ruins were removed to make room for the City of San Rafael. All that was left of the Mission was a single pear tree from the old Mission's orchard, it is for this reason that San Rafael is known as the "most obliterated of California's missions." In 1949, Monsignor Thomas Kennedy rebuilt and restored the chapel. The new chapel was dedicated on December 18, 1949, with Archbishop Mitty
John Joseph Mitty
John Joseph Mitty was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the third Bishop of Salt Lake City and the fourth Archbishop of San Francisco .-Early life and education:...
officiating.
Today the Mission San Rafael Arcángel sits next to the St. Raphael Parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo...
, on the site of the original hospital in San Rafael, California
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
. It is open to visitors and has a small museum and gift shop.
See also
- Chief MarinChief MarinChief Marin was the "great chief of the tribe Licatiut" , according to General Vallejo's semi-historical report to the first California State Legislature in 1850...
- Mission San Francisco de AsísMission San Francisco de AsísMission San Francisco de Asís, or Mission Dolores, is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco and the sixth religious settlement established as part of the California chain of missions...
- Mission San Francisco SolanoMission San Francisco SolanoMission San Francisco Solano was founded on July 4, 1823, and named for Francis Solanus, a missionary to the Indians of Peru born in Montilla, Spain, known as the "Wonder Worker of the New World." Originally planned as an asistencia to Mission San Rafael Arcángel, it is the northernmost Alta...
- USNS Mission San Rafael (AO-130)USNS Mission San Rafael (AO-130)SS Mission San Rafael was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission San Rafael . Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San...
— a Buenaventura Class fleet oiler built during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
External links
- Early photographs, sketches, land surveys of Mission San Rafael Arcángel, via Calisphere, California Digital Library
- Elevation & Site Layout sketches of the Mission proper
- http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb6h4nb3dk/?brand=oac4 at the Bancroft Library
